Angels first baseman Albert Pujols reaches for the throw to put out Boston's Daniel Nava in the fifth inning on Friday. CHRISTINE COTTER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

ANAHEIM – An Angels team managed by Mike Scioscia once went an entire season with just one appearance from a left-handed reliever.

That was 2004, and that left-handed reliever was a man named Dusty Bergman. He pitched the last two innings of a blowout loss and was never heard from in the majors again.

A decade later, it seems the Angels are going to have go lefty-free for a significant portion of their remaining schedule. Scioscia and General Manager Jerry Dipoto have tried all sorts of southpaws in the bullpen this season – seven in all. None has stuck, with July acquisition Joe Thatcher likely out until the end of the month because of a sprained left ankle.

None of the seven finished even seven innings with the Angels. One, Rich Hill, didn’t even get a single out, and three others finished an inning or less.

Obviously, the Angels have wanted a lefty. But can they make do without one for an extended period until Thatcher is ready to return?

“It can be done, although I think there are some things that having a lefty in the ’pen definitely helps you with, in a lot of areas,” Scioscia said Friday. “Some are very subtle and some are very obvious. Whether we have one or not doesn’t change the way we have to get after it and the way we have to play.

“So, I guess if your (question) is can we win without a lefty in the bullpen, sure.”

What are the subtle ways to which Scioscia referred?

He mentioned several, including preventing the stacking of left-handed hitters in an opposing starting lineup, the option to turn around switch-hitters on a whim, and keeping left-handed pinch-hitters out of the game.

“I think there’s a lot of (other) ways than just bringing that guy in and facing a lefty that helps you having a left-handed pitcher down there,” he said. “Obviously we’re not able to do that.”

MORIN UPDATE

Right-hander Michael Morin suffered a left-foot laceration that required stitches walking on the beach barefoot Saturday in Florida, but the 23-year-old rookie reliever is rapidly improving and on track to return in one week.

“They’re pretty happy with the progress, and I am as well,” Morin said.

Scioscia said he expects Morin to return by Aug. 16 in Texas.

“He’s long-tossing now and he’ll probably long toss through this weekend and see if he can get on a mound early next week, just to see if he’s moving in the right direction,” Scioscia said.

Morin said his foot feels about 90 percent fine. He has posted a 2.36 ERA in 42 big-league innings this season since his initial callup April 27.

NOTES

Two fans were arrested and 70 ejected from Angel Stadium over the two sold-out Freeway Series games this week, according to an Angels spokesperson. ….

Angels rookie right-hander Cam Bedrosian allowed a run in 12/3 innings Thursday, but impressed the team’s staff with his four strikeouts. It was his first big-league appearance since short, separate stints in June and July. “Cam’s stuff showed up better than it had his first go-round and I think that’s exciting for us, to see if he can help,” Scioscia said. …

Utilityman Grant Green, on the disabled list with a lumbar strain, made “some really big progress” this week, according to Scioscia. “There’s still some things he needs to do before we can make a determination how long it’s going to be, but he’s definitely getting better,” the manager said. ...

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